A Fond Farewell: III Amici Ristorante Closes After Years of Serving the Community
Business & Finance·August 15, 2026

A Fond Farewell: III Amici Ristorante Closes After Years of Serving the Community

Maria Torres · Union County Life

III Amici Ristorante officially closed its doors on August 2 after more than three decades of operation in Linden. The closure marks the formal retirement of owner Giovanni Lavorato who operated the landmark dining destination on West Elizabeth Avenue since 1990.

The venue first began as a family dream and grew into a community staple for generations of local families. Union County Life found that Lavorato was widely known for personally greeting guests at the entrance, singing to patrons in the dining room, and preparing family recipes in the kitchen.

Members of the Linden municipal government acknowledged the closure as a significant shift for the neighborhood. Mayor Derek Armstead attended a retirement celebration for Lavorato on July 12 to thank the family for their years of service to the borough. In a public message, Lavorato expressed gratitude to his kitchen and waitstaff alongside the generations of customers who frequented the restaurant.

Photo Credit: MyCentralJersey.com

FAQ:
Q: When did III Amici Ristorante in Linden close?
A: The restaurant officially closed its doors to the public on August 2.

Q: Who owned and operated the Linden restaurant?
A: The establishment was owned and operated by Giovanni Lavorato, who opened it as a family dream.

Q: Where was the Italian restaurant located?
A: The dining venue was located on West Elizabeth Avenue in the City of Linden.

Related articles

Get Union County news in your inbox

Subscribe for local headlines, town updates, and community stories from across Union County.

Sign up for the newsletter
Viviana Zapata, REALTOR®

YOUR UNION COUNTY REAL ESTATE EXPERT

Viviana Zapata

REALTOR® · Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Elite

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson · NJ · 181 North Ave East, Cranford NJ

Union County Life's real estate content, listings, and IDX data are presented under the license and control of Viviana Zapata, REALTOR®. All property searches and listing displays on this site are Viviana's displays.

Viviana Zapata, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Elite. 181 North Avenue East, Cranford, NJ 07016. Member NJMLS, CJMLS, GSMLS. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the IDX Program of Garden State Multiple Listing Service. Real estate listings held by other brokerage firms are marked as IDX Listing. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. © 2026 Garden State MLS. All rights reserved.